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Rain dents Lancashire's survival hopes

No play was possible at Edgbaston © PA Photos

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Lancashire's chances of avoiding relegation - just 12 months after winning the title - suffered a major setback on Wednesday after a washout in their County Championship Division One clash against Durham at Liverpool.

The defending champions are 15 points from safety and desperately need points from their final three matches to stave off relegation to Division Two.

However, overnight rain had already ruled out any possibility of play before mid-afternoon when a lunchtime downpour put paid to any prospect of the players getting on the field on Wednesday. Lancashire will begin day three on 221 for six in the first innings.

Lancashire's relegation rivals Worcestershire were the only team to host any play on Wednesday and they earned a valuable batting point in their clash against Middlesex. Resuming in front of a handful of spectators on 295 for eight off 96 overs, skipper Daryl Mitchell, unbeaten with 129 overnight, and Chris Russell, on eight, quickly pushed the hosts on to 300 to enable them to pick up a valuable third bonus point.

There was no play between Somerset and Surrey after heavy rain left puddles on the outfield at Taunton. The hosts were due to resume on 42 for two in reply to 317, but no play was possible.

It was a similar story at Edgbaston, where the second day between Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire was abandoned without a ball being bowled. The washout - the 12th full day lost on the ground since June - was more damaging to Nottinghamshire, the chasing team in third place and desperate for a win to close the gap on Warwickshire, the leaders.

Meanwhile in Division Two, Yorkshire's promotion bid continued to be undermined by rain as the second day of their match against Gloucestershire at Scarborough was washed out. The White Rose county suffered their 12th day without a ball being bowled this season to hold up their quest for an immediate return to the top-flight.

No action was possible at Grace Road, where heavy rain left umpires Michael Gough and George Sharp with no option but to call off the day's play between Leicestershire and Kent shortly after lunch.

Rain also put paid to hopes of any cricket between Glamorgan and Northamptonshire at Cardiff, while it was a similar story between Derbyshire and Essex at the County Ground.

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